Doctor Who (2005- ) Christmas specials ranked
Photo courtesy of Photo Editor Faith Zatlukal
This is one of the last Doctor Who police boxes in London.
‘Tis the season, and in response, I will be rating the different Doctor Who (2005- ) Christmas specials. As a disclaimer, my opinions are subjective. The ranking is based on how good it is writing-wise and the amount of Christmas spirit present. Let’s begin!
The Runaway Bride (2006)
This episode is a personal favorite (THANK YOU, PRACTICAL EFFECTS!). It is impressive that the Racnoss is done without computer-generated images (CGI). This episode is a paradox: the story feels timeless but is dated in terms of pop culture, technology, and even fashion. This episode is the advent of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, the dynamic duo. The Tardis does a car chase! The soundtrack by Murray Gold is a big standout in this episode.
The Snowmen (2012)
This episode is another personal favorite. The Doctor (Matt Smith) is depressed after the loss of his friends, and he has a new outfit, which is thrilling. Something about Victorian London feels so Christmas-like, and this episode genuinely feels magical. Bonus points for the Sherlock Holmes mention.
Last Christmas (2014)
This episode has a Matrix (1999) feel to it and is a little scary, seeing as it features Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman trapped in their own nightmares over and over again. In terms of Christmas spirit, this episode also features Santa, played by Nick Frost. The episode examines people allowing grief to consume their lives and how difficult the holidays can be when you’re alone. Despite this, they get to ride on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
The Christmas Invasion (2005)
As the very first Christmas special to air, this one holds a special place in my heart. It is also my dad’s favorite special! This episode is campy and full of Christmas spirit. Tennant makes his debut as the Doctor; demonic Santa robots almost kill Rose (Billie Piper) and her family and a hilariously deadly Christmas tree while the Doctor…naps. He eventually recovers to save the human race, using quotes from The Lion King (1994), satsuma oranges, and a sword duel to the death in his companion’s mom’s hook-up pajamas.
A Christmas Carol (2010)
This episode is the highest-rated special by critics. It follows a plot similar to the story it is named after but in the future and space. A grouchy, rich old man, Kazran, is unable to exert even the smallest of kindness, so the Doctor (Smith) steps in. Kazran, played by the iconic Michael Gambon, watches his own childhood change in real time on old home videos. This is another episode that deals with grief and the fear of losing loved ones.
Voyage of the Damned (2007)
The most-viewed episode of the show since the 1970s! I was perplexed as to why and then remembered that it features Kylie Minogue, an Australian singer/songwriter and pop princess. The Doctor (Tennant) finds himself sneaking aboard a spaceship replica of the Titanic, full of extraterrestrials, on a sight-seeing vacation to planet Earth. The cruise ship is worked by staff, like Astrid (Minogue), and robots called the Heavenly Host are decorated to resemble angels. The design of the robot’s faces is thought to be a reference to robots in a 1977 episode, “The Robots of Death.” While this episode is not my favorite, the Christmas spirit is certainly present.
The Next Doctor (2008)
I will admit I tend to skip this episode when I rewatch it. This episode is a certified bait-and-switch. The title teases the viewer into thinking that a new iteration of the Doctor will appear, and when the Doctor (Tennant) lands in London on Christmas Eve, 1851, he meets a man (David Morrissey) who claims he is the Doctor. Fresh off of losing a friend, this story about loss reminds the Doctor that he should not be alone and that running away from his pain doesn’t lessen it.
The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (2011)
This is yet another Christmas special mostly about grief. This episode features Smith’s Doctor, a woman (Claire Skinner), and her children (Maurice Cole and Holly Earl) escaping to the countryside for the holidays to avoid the London Blitz. Madge is incredibly stressed due to the loss of her husband, and then the kids accidentally adventure into a winter wonderland. The episode balances heavy material and lightheartedness and has lots of Christmas spirit.
The Husbands of River Song (2015)
This special is also a favorite of mine, as I am a huge fan of River Song (Alex Kingston). She had not appeared since the Christmas special in 2013 and had not yet appeared alongside Capaldi’s Doctor. Their dynamic is fun and flirty and comedic gold. This is yet another episode about grief, with the Doctor finally ready to say goodbye to River. Alex Kingston, please come back to Doctor Who— I miss you.
The Time of the Doctor (2013)
My dad affectionately refers to this one as “the one where Clara cooks the Christmas turkey,” which is the least important thing in the episode. This is the second Christmas special to feature a regeneration— with Smith passing the handle to Capaldi. In my opinion, this episode is less monumental than previous stories but feels more like a Christmas episode. This episode gets points for nudity jokes, tying up some loose ends from series five and six, and loses points for a few pointless monster cameos.
The Church on Ruby Road (2023)
The Christmas special’s prodigal return… Russell T. Davies, thank you for bringing it back. This episode was a leap for the show, introducing a new vibe to Christmas and two new characters: the new Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, and Ruby, played by Millie Gibson. It’s a fun episode —with a musical number!— and a great introduction to the new era. My dad enjoys the goblins.
Twice Upon a Time (2017)
Another regeneration episode…and yet another episode about grief. This episode features one of the funniest things Doctor Who (2005- )has ever done, which is to start the episode with “Previously on Doctor Who…” and follow it with “...709 episodes ago.” This special features David Bradley bringing back to life the first iteration of the Doctor. Watching the first and present iterations of the Doctor struggle with the same issue and realize how similar they still feel poetic.
The End of Time (2009) and The Return of Doctor Mysterio (2016) are coming in last. While I enjoy these episodes, the plots in both overshadow the Christmas element and, therefore, do not even have enough Christmas spirit to make the list; sorry, not sorry—that’s just the rules.